Recent Progresses in NIR-I/II Fluorescence Imaging for Surgical Navigation

Abstract

Cancer is still one of the main causes of morbidity and death rate around the world, although diagnostic and therapeutic technologies are used to advance human disease treatment. Currently, surgical resection of solid tumors is the most effective and a prior remedial measure to treat cancer. Although medical treatment, technology, and science have advanced significantly, it is challenging to completely treat this lethal disease. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence, including the first near-infrared region (NIR-I, 650–900 nm) and the second near-infrared region (NIR-II, 1,000–1,700 nm), plays an important role in image-guided cancer surgeries due to its inherent advantages, such as great tissue penetration, minimal tissue absorption and emission light scattering, and low autofluorescence. By virtue of its high precision in identifying tumor tissue margins, there are growing number of NIR fluorescence-guided surgeries for various living animal models as well as patients in clinical therapy. Herein, this review introduces the basic construction and operation principles of fluorescence molecular imaging technology, and the representative application of NIR-I/II image-guided surgery in biomedical research studies are summarized. Ultimately, we discuss the present challenges and future perspectives in the field of fluorescence imaging for surgical navigation and also put forward our opinions on how to improve the efficiency of the surgical treatment.

In situ formation of J-aggregate in the tumor microenvironment using acidity responsive polypeptide nanoparticle encapsulating galactose-conjugated BODIPY dye for NIR-II phototheranostics

“…[2][3][4][5] Fluorescence imaging has received extensive attention because of its advantages of no radiation, high spatial and temporal resolution, and real-time feedback compared to traditional medical imaging techniques. [6][7][8] In particular, nearinfrared second window fluorescence imaging (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) has rapidly developed in recent years due to its ability to significantly reduce scattering and autofluorescence interference from biological tissues, leading to deeper penetration depths and higher spatial and temporal resolution. [9][10][11] Compared to various inorganic materials such as carbon nanotubes, 12 quantum dots, and rare earth nanoparticles, 13 organic dyes offer advantages such as lower molecular weight, flexible molecular design, and considerable biocompatibility and biodegradation in vivo, promising clinical translation.…”

Covalent organic polymer induces apoptosis of liver cancer cells via photodynamic and photothermal effects

“…Compared with the visible wavelength, the fluorophores emitted in the near-infrared region I (NIR-I) can provide relatively deep penetration and higher imaging quality ( 30 ). Due to the inherent advantages, such as strong tissue penetration, small tissue absorption and emission light scattering, and low autofluorescence, the near-infrared 808-nm laser was selected for this study, which is effective in minimizing the interference of biological light absorbers considering that in vivo fluorescence imaging uses near-infrared light with a longer wavelength (650 – 900 nm) rather than ultraviolet or visible light ( 31 , 32 ). According to the results, Purp@COP had satisfactory photothermal and photodynamic effects under near-infrared laser irradiation, which indicates high compatibility with the current clinically approved laser generator.…”

Near-Infrared Ratiometric Hemicyanine-Based pH Fluorescence Probe with Bone Targetability for Monitoring Bone Resorption

“…Presently, the pH-responsive fluorescence probes used to bone resorption monitoring are mainly intensity-based types. Intensity-based pH-responsive fluorescence probes with an ON/OFF switch use the enhancement or quenching of the probe fluorescence signal before and after exposure to H + to visualize the pH changes in a specific range. ,, Certainly, these probes have been widely used for the detection of bone resorption via implementing intravital imaging of osteoclasts activity on the surface of the bone tissue or in the deep bone matrix owing to their high sensitivity, good specificity, and in situ and real-time monitoring. ,, However, they have a few shortcomings such as susceptibility to interference from probe concentration, laser signal intensity, etc. , Diversely, the ratiometric pH-responsive fluorescence probe with dual absorption or emission wavelengths allows self-calibration of the two bands and excludes most environmental variables like probe concentration, instrumental parameters, photobleaching, etc., which can provide a quantitative analysis of the pH. − Thus, ratiometric pH fluorescence probes have greater advantages in the detection of bone resorption activity. As a ratiometric pH fluorescent probe molecule, hemicyanine (Hcy) dyes, due to their excellent optical properties such as high absorption coefficients, high fluorescence quantum yields, modifiability of terminal groups, and adjustable excitation and emission wavelengths, have attracted great interest from researchers and have been widely used to design near-infrared ratimetric pH fluorescence probes for monitoring of biological events in live cells or tissues. − Consequently, hemicyanine is highly anticipated to detect the bone resorption activity.…”